Stars take to streets on Cauvery

Members of the Kannada film industry, actors, directors, producers and technicians alike, joined the Cauvery agitation on Saturday.

Popular actor-turned politician Ambareesh led the members, who had gathered in front of the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce. Later they submitted a memorandum to Governor H R Bhardwaj.

Actors Upendra, Shivrajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Jaggesh, Ganesh, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, Tara, Shruthi, Rangayana Raghu, Avinash and directors T N Seetaram, Rajendra Singh Babu and others extended their support to the struggle.

Ambareesh, addressing the film fraternity, said the industry supported the farmers’ movement and the Karnataka bandh called against the Cauvery River Authority directive to the State to release water to Tamil Nadu, when the State is reeling under severe drought.

He accused the Union government of being partial and for buckling under pressure of the coalition partners. Stating that he would lead the protest till a logical conclusion was reached, Ambaressh urged people of Karnataka transcending language barriers to join the protests.

Talking to mediapersons Shivrajkumar said: “The order to the State to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu was a travesty of justice. We artistes stand by the people of the State.”

The actor noted that sharing of Cauvery water should be treated as a State issue and not as a language issue. Upendra demanded the politicians to find a permanent solution to the Cauvery issue. “If they fail to act, their houses should be gheraoed,” he said.

Mukhyamantri Chandru asked the 40 members of Parliament from the State to resign en masse.

Producer Sa Ra Govindu warned the State government of dire consequences, akin to the 1991 Cauvery agitation in the State, if it failed to find a solution at the earliest.